Chapter 18: Six Suns (18)
After He Qingzhou asked that question, he noticed Jian Yuntai’s expression had turned icy, and a flicker of confusion crossed his mind.
Had he not heard the question clearly?
He tried, considerately, to ask again. “What’s your title?”
Jian Yuntai’s lips curved slightly, his eyes cold as ice. “If you want to fight, then fight. Stop wasting words.”
“…!!!” Everyone around He Qingzhou looked shocked.
They had spent three days with him and knew his personality well. He was arrogant, impulsive, and acted without thinking, with a terrible temper. Previously, someone had mocked his post-mutation ape-like physique, and he had chased that person through three instances in a row with his fists, reportedly costing tens of thousands of national points to resolve the matter.
Now that Jian Yuntai spoke with such impatience, He Qingzhou’s anger must have already reached a boiling point.
Everyone watched He Qingzhou carefully.
But He Qingzhou’s expression only darkened slightly. People braced themselves, thinking he would explode with rage—but instead, he spoke with a deep, almost admiring tone.
“There’s someone even more reckless than me.”
“???”
He Qingzhou nodded with satisfaction. “I like it.”
“…Huh?”
Those around exchanged confused, suffocating looks. “So… are we still fighting?”
“Stay put.” He Qingzhou glanced toward Jiang Jiu’s direction. “Let them fight first. It’s better for us to observe how the newcomer moves.”
The sun blazed overhead, its scorching rays piercing the dusty air, heating the ground like molten metal. Jian Yuntai and Fatty with Xue stayed at the entrance, while Jinjin’s form suddenly expanded, its fangs glinting silver.
They had to hold this doorway at all costs.
About twenty meters ahead, six Sinister Monster Types swarmed around Jiang Jiu. Among them were a man with massive gray wings and another whose entire arm had mutated into some kind of large canine limb… but all of them shared the same fierce, predatory glare.
Jiang Jiu stayed behind them. Learning from the last battle at the weeping willow, he had finally figured out to be cautious this time.
“You three, stay by my side and protect me. Don’t move a single step away.” Jiang Jiu instructed, then pointed at three others. “You three, go hit them hard.”
He glared at Jian Yuntai, sneering. “Especially Jian Yuntai. Make him your first target!”
The gray-winged bird-man shot into the air, laughing. “Jian Yuntai’s head is mine!”
The other two didn’t contest him.
The antlered man charged at Fatty, and a speed-type Sinister Monster Type dashed toward Young Master Xue.
“Awesome! We’re getting split up!” Fatty even managed to joke at this moment, scrambling onto Jinjin’s back. “Hehe, Jian Dadan’er is the biggest prize. How did they get such good taste?”
“You’re impossible.” Jian Yuntai scolded Fatty, then seriously reminded the two beside him, “No matter what happens, don’t leave the doorway.”
“Got it!” they both responded immediately.
No sooner had they spoken than the black-winged bird-man was almost upon them. He swooped down, grabbing Jian Yuntai and soaring into the air.
Jian Yuntai was at least ten meters from the doorway.
Young Master Xue looked up in shock. He barely said, “My god,” before seeing the antlered Sinister Monster Type push Jinjin off balance several steps. One moment, the three had vowed to defend the doorway together, and the next, only Young Master Xue remained in front of it.
“…”
The wind whistled as Young Master Xue stood frozen, tears streaming.
Weren’t they supposed to defend the doorway together? Did the older brothers only say it for show?!
The speed-type Sinister Monster Type lunged, and Young Master Xue dodged with a shout. “Fatty! Brother Jian! Help me!”
The Sinister Monster Type was confused.
How could someone be crying for help before the fight even started?
In the air, Jian Yuntai ignored Young Master Xue.
The bird-man’s claws were vicious, sinking into his shoulders and tearing his clothes within seconds. Jian Yuntai gripped the bird’s hand, and with a snap, broke its fingers.
“Eek—” The bird-man’s expression shifted instantly.
In almost no time, it loosened its grip from the pain. Jian Yuntai fell from over ten meters, unable to rotate midair, landing hard on the rubble of the dome.
The fall was brutal, and the livestream viewers gasped in unison, their faces tense with worry.
Jian Yuntai rolled and got to his feet. The bird-man circled again, aiming for another strike.
But before it could swoop down, Young Master Xue used his ability to teleport Jian Yuntai back to the doorway.
“He hit me!” Young Master Xue screamed, pointing at the speed-type Sinister Monster Type. “Go hit him back!”
“Don’t shout.” Jian Yuntai swept his leg in a masterful arc, tripping the speed Sinister Monster Type. He was a professional at sweeping attacks.
Meanwhile, Fatty was being moved as well.
The antlered Sinister Monster Type rammed Jinjin several meters. Jinjin yowled in pain, not daring to stand in front of it. Those antlers were like sharp blades—one strike, and it could feel like a thousand swords piercing the body.
Young Master Xue teleported Fatty back.
The moment they landed, Jian Yuntai was lifted again by the bird-man.
Jian Yuntai returned, Young Master Xue teleported, Fatty was thrown.
Fatty returned, Young Master Xue teleported, Jian Yuntai was grabbed again.
Back and forth, a repeating cycle.
At first, the livestream audience was tense, worried about the battle.
But eventually, everyone started to suspect themselves.
Their concern had been unnecessary—Jian Yuntai had already set a plan in motion. It was a masterful tactic! This extreme back-and-forth delayed the battle, and who knew, maybe the artificial sun would launch in the meantime.
The truth? Jian Yuntai hadn’t set any strategy at all.
After several rounds, Young Master Xue could no longer continue. He gave up trying to pick up teammates and fight. He almost collapsed, seeing the speed-type Sinister Monster Type approaching him with a short blade, despair flashing across his face.
Could it be… he was going to die in the final stage?
Fatty faced a grave crisis too.
The antlered Sinister Monster Type had lost patience. It abandoned Jinjin and targeted Fatty.
It lunged—
Its antler hooked the back of Fatty’s collar. Before he could react, he was thrown to the ground.
“Die!!!”
The antlered Sinister Monster Type lowered its head, aiming the antlers at Fatty.
“Meowww…” Jinjin howled in anguish. Though it often seemed indifferent toward Fatty, in critical moments it always showed remarkable loyalty.
Jinjin leapt forward. The antler grazed its abdomen in an instant, tearing flesh and spilling blood.
A half-meter gash opened across Jinjin’s belly.
Crash—
Jinjin fell to the ground.
Fatty’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. He rushed forward and pressed his hands against Jinjin’s wound, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.
Behind the two of them, a shallow crater had formed in the dome rubble. Jian Yuntai climbed out of it, his face dark as he glared at the bird-man in the air.
That bird-man was far too cunning!
Ever since Jian Yuntai had broken its fingers the first time it lifted him, the bird-man hadn’t gotten another chance to strike. Every time, it was picked up, held a few seconds, then dropped from five or six meters—never able to actually hit him—just prolonging the struggle.
Now the bird-man could dive again at any moment. If Jiang Jiu found an opening, Song Yulu would be in danger.
All three of them were in a critical situation.
Seeing this, some of He Qingzhou’s people were puzzled, whispering to one another.
“Am I remembering wrong? Isn’t Jian Yuntai the one transferred from Xiang’an Team? By logic, any one of those Xiang’an maniacs could take on an entire Inspector Team. The crimes they commit aren’t something ordinary people could even imagine, let alone do. So why… why hasn’t he fought back?”
“Could it be that he simply doesn’t have the ability to fight back?”
“And I don’t understand—if the mission clearly says to stop the sun launch, why are these three acting against it?”
Amidst everyone’s confusion, a deep, commanding snort sounded: “Hmph, you don’t understand!”
“Don’t understand what?” Everyone looked at He Qingzhou, bewildered.
“He came from Xiang’an Team. Think about it—who there isn’t gifted? Every single one of them is insane, committing crimes that are beyond comprehension. Even with the Inspector Team assigning so many people to transport him, Jian Yuntai wouldn’t be an exception.”
He Qingzhou’s expression grew serious, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on Jian Yuntai. He spoke solemnly.
“If I’m not mistaken, he’s charging his ultimate. Jian Yuntai’s build isn’t like a Sinister Monster Type, and his wounds haven’t been treated, so he’s definitely not a Sinister Spirit Type. That leaves only Sinister Human or Sinister Ghost Type.”
“So what if he is?” everyone asked, even more confused.
“Can’t you use your brains instead of making me spoon-feed you?” He Qingzhou scolded in frustration. “He hasn’t used any skills yet. In all the players I’ve encountered, there’s only one explanation: he’s charging his ultimate, and he won’t unleash it until the right moment.”
He paused, then added with a grave tone: “And people like this are among the most dangerous I’ve ever met… Not good. Jian Yuntai must have calculated his attack range. Once he releases it, we’re all in trouble! Retreat!”
“…So that’s what’s happening!” everyone realized in shock.
The boy was so calculating and cunning—they almost fell right into his trap. Clearly, they had underestimated him.
Everyone hurriedly stepped back with He Qingzhou, hearts pounding, silently grateful that he was smart enough to lead them safely.
Some of He Qingzhou’s audience had just run over to Jian Yuntai’s livestream to follow the main quest. Returning now, they saw the main character doing something ridiculous and almost laughed to death in front of their screens.
“??? What is he even saying? Hahaha, he totally misled everyone hhhh”
“Monkey He’s IQ has never been online. He was enjoying a brainstorm with Jian Dadan, then suddenly came back—it’s a bit disorienting hahaha…”
“That’s why he’s called Monkey He. New fans might not know, but his original title was ‘Cave Man,’ teasing him for being big and clumsy. Since his title changed to ‘God of Strength Jufu,’ he always shows off before a fight.”
“Monkey did have a point though. I still can’t tell Jian Dadan’s Sinister Type. That was almost impossible before… And it looks like he hasn’t used any skills yet. Could he really be charging his ultimate?”
The audience’s curiosity was piqued, but they couldn’t confirm anything—the platform never reveals a streamer’s Sinister Type unless the streamer has 500,000 bookmarks and is upgraded to a civilian identity. Then the platform might release fan perks, which include the Sinister Type.
Thinking of this, viewers couldn’t resist rushing to Jian Yuntai’s livestream.
Soon:
【Jian Yuntai livestream bookmarks +1706】
【Jian Yuntai livestream bookmarks +2319】
【Jian Yuntai livestream bookmarks…】
“???” Jian Yuntai paused slightly.
Why did his bookmarks increase when he was at a disadvantage? Did this generation of viewers really have such strange tastes?
He put the matter aside for now, clutching his stomach instinctively.
Here it came again—the feeling.
Hunger.
He realized that since meeting Song Yulu, he hadn’t eaten a single bite.
He could have managed for a while, but being lifted and dropped repeatedly by the bird-man felt like countless rollercoaster rides. By the time he landed, his stomach was growling in hunger.
Jian Yuntai had an unusually high pain tolerance. Having been injured often in the Slum District, he used to cry out, but soon learned that no one cared. Over time, he developed exceptional endurance, showing only a fraction of real pain.
But hunger was different. He couldn’t ignore it—it was even worse than pain.
Now was not the time to eat.
He had to solve the immediate problem. If the doorway was lost, all their efforts would be wasted.
With that thought, Jian Yuntai looked up thoughtfully.
Jiang Jiu was hiding behind three Sinister Monster Types, grinning at him. “Experience the feeling of being completely alone. No one will help you. You’re going to die a miserable death…”
Not wanting to listen to more taunts, Jian Yuntai turned his gaze to He Qingzhou.
He could seek cooperation. He Qingzhou hadn’t joined Jiang Jiu because he didn’t need free healing.
Then what did he lack?
Jian Yuntai’s eyes flickered, and in an instant, he realized. Exactly—this was what He Qingzhou was missing!
Meanwhile, He Qingzhou was anxiously explaining the battlefield to those around him. “Jian Yuntai hasn’t moved for a long time. Based on my experience, he’s probably charged his ultimate. Everyone, be on guard and stay as far from him as possible.”
“Yes!” everyone braced themselves.
Before they could even ready their weapons, they saw Jian Yuntai suddenly pivot and run toward them.
“?!”
“Oh no! He’s coming this way to unleash his ultimate! He’s far fiercer than I imagined!” He Qingzhou shouted. “Retreat quickly! Don’t let him wipe us out!”
Everyone scrambled back in panic.
Jian Yuntai: “???”
He hadn’t even taken a few steps, yet He Qingzhou’s side had already retreated over three meters, faces pale and expressions terrified. Even the bird-man, who had been pursuing, hesitated to move.
The antlered and speed-type Sinister Monster Types looked on in astonishment. “Why is everyone so afraid of Jian Yuntai?!”
Jiang Jiu and his allies were equally unsettled.
Even a powerful Sinister Monster Type like He Qingzhou feared Jian Yuntai. He must know some inside information. Clearly, they had underestimated him.
Exchanging glances, Jiang Jiu and the others’ expressions turned serious, not daring to let their guard down in the slightest.
He Qingzhou ran while glancing back at the varied expressions of those around him and the complex gaze of Jian Yuntai.
He couldn’t help but smile proudly.
Hmph, you can’t touch me now.
This little mind game will make the fans praise me.
He really was a clever one!
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